The 1945–46 NCAA men's basketball season began in December 1945, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1946 NCAA basketball tournament championship game on March 26, 1946, at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.
The Oklahoma A&M Aggies won their second NCAA national championship with a 43–40 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels.
A total of 54 college teams played as major independents.
Yale (14–1) had the best winning percentage (.933) and Nevada (28–5) finished with the most wins.
A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.